| South Africa: October 18 to 31, 2008 with extension November 1 to 5 with John Drummond as Trip Host and Patrick Cardwell as the Lead Bird Guide Trip Description: The main trip will cover a number of key birding spots in South Africa, starting in Cape Town and surrounding areas and then to Johannesburg and Kruger National Park. These sites include Cape Point Nature Reserve, Boulders Coastal Park, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Strandfontein Wetlands, Langebaan Lagoon, the Strandveld region of Saint Helena Bay, the coastal foothills and the Berg River estuary, the Tanqua Karoo and back to the edge of the Cedarberg Mountains, the Little Karoo, the Agulhas Plain, the Langeberg Mountains via Barrydale, De Hoop Reserve and Potberg Mountain, the eastern sector of the Agulhas Plain, the Langeberg Mountains, the forest at Grootvadersbosch, the Succulent Karoo, the Outeniqua mountains, the coastal village of Wilderness Area. After enjoying birding at these sites, then its off to Johannesburg and Kruger National Park for another 4 days of birding and wildlife watching. This bird list based upon this itinerary for the main trip averages between 300 to 350 species. With the extension, you should have the opportunity to see nearly 400 species, including over 75 South African endemics and another 30 near-endemic species. Click here to review the list of endemics and near-endemic bird species for the trip and also a list of mammals. The main bird guide for the trip will be Patrick Cardwell, who has been leading professional bird-watching and safari tours in South Africa for over a decade. His extensive field experience is well-demonstrated, as he leads an effective bird-watching tour and provides a delightful trip for all participants. He is a fully qualified member of the Field Guides Association of South Africa and endorsed by Bird Life South Africa. He has a personal Southern Africa bird list exceeding 850 species. The trip will be hosted by John Drummond. John is approaching 6,500 birds on his world bird list and has birded in 25 countries (including South Africa) covering 6 continents. John has been a leader, co-leader or has advanced a number of international trips covering Jamaica, Japan, Austrailia and Thailand. |
| Nestling Tour's Itinerary for South Africa in 2008 1 Day of Day by Day Itinerary Saturday, Oct 18 Cape Town Link up with your Avian Leisure representative in the arrivals hall and travel through to Simon’s Town. After settling in we cross the Cape peninsula to pick up on the Atlantic seaboard with Bank Cormorant, Cape Cormorant, White- breasted (Great) Cormorant and Crowned Cormorant in mind. Other sightings along the rocky shore include African Black Oystercatcher, White-fronted Plover, Pied Kingfisher and Little Egret. Heading towards Cape Point through the scenically delightful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve we will search for Grassbird, Spotted Prinia, Gray-backed Cisticola, Cape Bulbul, Familiar Chat, Cape Francolin and Rock (Common) Kestrel. Taking a side route to the coast we will search for Grassbird, Spotted Prinia, Gray-backed Cisticola, Cape Bulbul, Familiar Chat, Cape Sugarbird, Jackal Buzzard, Cape Bunting, Cape White-eye and Red-winged Starling.From the heights above Cape Point itself we will scan for Peregrine Falcon and Cape Siskin as well as passing pelagic seabirds. Nest stop will be the famous Boulder’s Coastal Park where we will enjoy close up views of African Penguin coming ashore in the late afternoon. Overnight in Simon’s Town. For more of the Day by Day Itinerary with more birding details, click here. |
Your Host and Bird Guide:
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| To learn about our other great trips, click here. For information about the the price of these services, click here. For more information, contact us at 1-888-203-7464 or by email at travel@nestlingtours.com. |
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Small Group Adult Trip to South Africa: October 18 to 31, 2008 with Extension
| Brief Itinerary Friday, October 17: Flight day from the United States for most participants. Saturday, October 18: By noon, arrival at Cape Town International Airport. Bird watching begins at Cape Point Nature Reserve and Boulders Coastal Park. Sunday, October 19: Offshore Pelagic trip Monday, October 20: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and surrounding areas in morning; Strandfontein Wetlands in the afternoon Tuesday, October 21: Start of the West Coast leg of the trip, as we head up to the Langebaan Lagoon and beyond to the Strandveld region of St Helena Bay Wednesday, October 22: We begin the with bird watching the coastal foothills and Berg River estuary area. Next, we head east into the rain shadow of the Cedarberg Mountains to bird the Tanqua Karoo Thursday, October 23: In search of a number of arid country specialties, we start at Tanqua Karoo on a circular route to the edge of the Cedarberg Mountains Friday, October 24: We start off with the the Little Karoo, known for its incredibly diverse mix of succulent vegetation. Next, we descend to the Agulhas Plain. Also, the Langeberg Mountains via Barrydale. Saturday, October 25: Start early at De Hoop Reserve and Potberg Mountain. We then take the ferry across the Breede River to the eastern sector of the Agulhas Plain. From here, we bird across rolling wheat lands to the evergreen slopes and indigenous forest of the Langeberg Mountains. Sunday, October 26: We start birding the forest at Grootvadersbosch. Following a picnic breakfast in the forest, we cut cut through the mountain range via a spectacular pass to the Succulent Karoo. In the afternoon we cross the rugged Outeniqua mountains to arrive at the coastal village of Wilderness in the heart of the Garden Route. Monday, October 27: Full day birding the impressive indigenous forests and several wetlands in the Wilderness Area. Tuesday, October 28: Depart early to arrive at George Airport for 6:50 am flight to Johannesburg and then Nelspruit. Shortly after noon, we head towards the southern end of Kruger National Park, allowing plenty of time to get in some birding at Crocodile Bridge at a good try at some of the trips most colorful and enigmatic bird species. Wednesday, October 29: After a morning of birding along the loop road that encompasses the Sabie and Sand rivers in Kruger National Park, we head west towards Skukuza for productive birding at the thorn trees there. We will also check more open areas and ripirian habitat along the way. The day ends with a night drive for bird and wildlife watching. Thursday, October 30: Another full day at Kruger National Park, following a series of loop roads known for excellent birding watching and wildlife watching from Skukuza to Pretoriuskop. Friday, October 31: We begin birding early with any remaining nearby productive birding at Kruger National Park before heading towards the Abel Erasmus Tunnel in search of the very rare Taita Falcon. The days continues as we head towards Johannesburg with productive birding along the way. Some participants may choose return home on October 31 and may be able to catch an international flight home after 9 PM. Others can continue with the extension trip. |
Malachite Sunbird.
Photo by W. Tarboton
| Extension Description: The rugged and awe inspiring Drakensberg Mountain range is arguably South Africa’s most prominent geological feature. As a mountain chain it stretches for nearly a 1000km dividing the savanna woodland along the coastal plain to the east from the high lying grassland of the central interior. In parts the towering peaks of volcanic rock rise to over 3350 metres to form an almost impregnable and intimidating escarpment of sandstone and basalt known to early pioneers as the Dragon Mountains and to the Zulus, who inhabit the plains below the imposing peaks as the ‘Barrier of Spears’. This phase of our journey takes us from the City of Gold, as Johannesburg has been known since the discovery of this precious metal in 1886, to the wind swept grasslands of the Highveld to the east of the city. Here we will search the open grassland and rock studded hills for a select number of species that are either on the extremity of their known range or highly localized such as Rudd’s and Botha’s Lark. Beyond the Highveld we descend into the foothills of the Drakensberg itself before tackling the scenically impressive Sani Pass in search of Cape Siskin, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Bearded Vulture and Sentinel Rock Thrush as prime targets. Dropping down to lower altitudes we will explore a relic montane forest in search of a suite of secretative forest species unique to the area before scanning the open grassland for Blue Swallow before heading to Durban for the connecting flight to Johannesburg. |
Photo by W. Tarboton
Cape Sugarbird.
White-fronted Bee-Eater.
Photo by W. Tarboton
Photo by W. Tarboton
Photo by W. Tarboton
Photo by W. Tarboton
Cape Rock-Jumper.
Lilac-breasted Roller
| Main Trip Description: Note: The following is a nice trip overview for a more detailed itinerary (including more birding details, click here). Table Mountain stands astride the Cape Peninsula as a universally recognized geological landmark associated with times long gone of global exploration. More recently, the area's biodiversity of life and natural beauty is recognized worldwide. Here in the shadow of the main face of towering sandstone, dating back some 200 million years, lies the city of Cape Town looking west across to Robben Island and south to the Cape of Good Hope. This spectacular landscape of mountain splendor is home to a host of highly localized and sought after South African endemics, such as the Cape Sugarbird and Orange-breasted Sunbird. Beyond Cape Point and further to the south, the warm Agulhas and cold Benguela currents converge to create a nutrient rich offshore pelagic environment, providing some of the most spectacular pelagic birding in the world. Aside from the seabirds, the area is rich in marine life with dolphin and whale regularly seen on trips to the edge of the continental shelf. To the north, in the rain shadow beyond the imposing barrier of forested mountain ranges, lies the Great Karoo – a vast thirst land that is host to a wide diversity of natural delights and specialist life forms that have successfully adapted to this hot and arid environment. This is the tapestry of the Western Cape and the start of a two part journey into the interior of Southern Africa. Part two of the journey commences with a flight to Johannesburg from the Garden Route to connect with a short flight to the globally acclaimed Kruger National Park set in pristine savanna below the Great Escarpment. Here the geological uplift of catatonic proportions, following the breakup on Gondwanaland some 200 million of years ago, gave rise to a treasure trove of valuable mineral wealth and a rich and fertile alluvial landscape. Biodiversity is unequalled anywhere else in the sub-region. It is home to an incredible variety of plants, trees, reptiles, insect life, mammals and birds. This is classic savanna and wild Africa at its best. Here you will follow roads less traveled in search of totally new birding and wildlife viewing experiences within a matrix of scenic routes that criss-cross the mid- section of this enormous National Park. Not only will you be struck by the sheer diversity of life around you and the thrill of the chase, as you search for mega listings such as Southern Ground Hornbill, Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, Saddle-billed Stork, Kori Bustard and Secretarybird, but you could also encounter the classic ‘Big Five’ mammals for which Kruger is famous – African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Rhino, Lion and Leopard. Days are likely to be warm to hot and the nights pleasantly cool. Rain is unlikely except in the Cape. Clear skies in the evening will add a further dimension of pleasure to the trip as the southern constellations reveal themselves for celestial enjoyment to the rhythm and beat of the African bush. |
| Brief Itinerary for Extension: November 1 to 5 Saturday, November 1: Early departure after breakfast for Suikerbosrand south of Johannesburg and then on to Wakkerstroom. Sunday, November 2: Full day spent birding in Wakkerstroom area in search of local endemics. Monday, November 3: Bird the morning in the Dirkiesdorp area and then set off for Underberg in the vicinity of Sani Pass. Tuesday, November 4: Full day birding up the rugged Drakensberg Escarpment into Lesotho and return in the late afternoon. Wednesday, November 5: Bird a local forest for species not yet encountered on the trip. We will also stop to bird at an open montane grassland in search of the highly endangered Blue Swallow. Then off to Durban airport to connect with the flight to Johannesburg for international flights home. |
African Penquin cannot be missed in Cape Town.
| For more information (including an easy to print itinerary), contact us at 1-888-203-7464 or by email at travel@nestlingtours.com. |